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Monday, October 22, 2012

Whether its the result of the growing number of small-batch breweries in Arizona or an ever-growing interest in craft beer, Phoenix has recently become home to a number of ale houses, and as a beer aficionado myself I couldn't be happier. I am pleased that these new ale houses have a commitment to changing taps and bringing in seasonal and limited releases, in addition to some great food. Angel's Trumpet Ale HouseAngel's Trumpet boasts 31 changing taps, including 2 nitro taps and a hard cider, and their entire concept is centered around craft beer. What sets Angel's Trumpet apart is that their taps are constantly changing -- you could visit every week, or even twice in the same week, and find completely different beers. This is where their flights come in very handy, for $9 you get six 3 oz. pours. I've found that if at least two beers sound interesting, it's worth doing a flight since the beers might not be on tap during your next visit. When I order a flight I usually have one odd choice, so there's the added bonus that you might discover something you may not have expected to like. The friendly atmosphere and large patio are quickly making it a favorite watering hole. Angel's Trumpet's menu compliments the beer with a variety of sandwiches, salads and pizzas, including a delicious grilled cheese and shroom stroganoff burger.http://www.angelstrumpetalehouse.com/Angels_Trumpet/ATAH.htmlBrat HausWhen one of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix, Oregano's, moved out of its cozy original Old Town location to accommodate a larger crowd, I was very curious to see what restaurant would spring on such a prime location. Brat Haus does not disappoint, it converted the charm of the location into a brewpub and beer garden, serving up three of my favorite things -- artisan sausages, Belgian fries and craft beer. Their menu has a dozen types of sausages ranging from your basic beer brat to the rattlesnake ripper. And if you're really hungry and adventurous, try the Pig Mac, a 1/4 lb. sausage patty and 1/4 lb. beef patty with caramelized onions and cheddar. It's decadent but well worth it, especially when washed down with a good brew. I discovered one of my new favorites at Brat Haus, the Stone Smoked Porter. Brat Haus has 25 taps, two of which rotate seasonal brews from Green Flash and Dogfish head. And they even do "adult" milk shakes, who could say no to that?http://brathausaz.com/World of BeerWorld of Beer recently expanded to the West Coast, opening a location near ASU. If you're a casual beer drinker, they have a knowledgeable staff able to answer questions and steer you in the right direction, and if you're a beer aficionado you can find more than 40 beers on tap and probably three times that in bottles, ranging from craft brews to more widely available brews like Guinness. It's a great place to try something new, since they have so many options within each type of beer and their drafts change weekly.http://wobusa.com/Locations/Tempe.aspx